Turn Trash Into Treasure

Turn plastic bags into jewelry!

I had a really cute bag from Wold Market that had the message "please reuse or recycle this bag," so I immediately knew what I would do when I pulled this activity from my jar. Make a bracelet from this plastic bag!

Here's what you'll need:

• Plastic bags
• Scissors
• Parchment paper
• Iron
• Needle and thread
• Toggles (charms and beads, optional)

First I cut up the bags and laid the pieces in a collage on to of a sheet of parchment paper.  

A few plastic bags cut into a collage on parchment paper

I took another sheet of parchment paper and placed it on top of the collage.  Then I took the iron on a medium high heat and gently fused the layers of plastic together.  

My plastic "fabric."

Next I cut out bracelets (make sure they have tails) and added toggles to the ends. Sew the ends underneath.

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Pull the plastic tails  through the toggles and sew down to adhere.

Have fun creating.  You can get really fancy by sewing the edges with a sewing machine, sewing on extra layers of plastic fabric and adding beads. 

This project took me a few hours to make, but I had enough "fabric" to make five bracelets!

Let me know if you try it.  I want to see your bracelets (and any other type of jewelry you make from plastic "fabric" too!)

Happy summer,

Lizzie